Ecclesiastes Vanity

The author of Ecclesiastes lays out several problems with finding the meaning of life. The author is identified as the “Teacher” and repeats the word vanity over and over throughout this particular book. As the HarperCollins Study Bible says, “Vanity seems to be the book’s theme or motto, placed at the beginning and end” (HarperCollins Study Bible, “Old Testament”, 893 note 1.2). In this case, vanity actually means emptiness or hollowness. The author begins to talk about his journey to find the real meaning of life. He says he has tried everything that he can think of that might bring out the meaning of life, but nothing seems to do the trick. He implies that finding the meaning through work becomes boring. For example, this comes to the reader’s

The first one is to enjoy the gifts God provides us as a whole. Parts of chapters eleven and twelve prove this statement. Chapter eleven verses seven through ten talk about youth and old age, particularly verses seven and nine. They read, “Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to see the sun. Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let you heart cheer you in the days of your youth” (HarperCollins Study Bible 11:7-9). This idea implies to enjoy God’s gifts whether young or old. The second judgment that is understood throughout the last final chapters is that everything you do is vanity; whether it be that you are young, old, rich, poor, and etc. The author implies that it is pointless. In Chapter twelve he says,” The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (HarperCollins Study Bible 12:13-14). This concept is more profound in Ecclesiastes and is what seems like the main point behind the first couple of chapters. This is the final resolution of life to the author. As he says,” Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher; all is vanity” (HarperCollins Study Bible